Name : Chew Sie Wai

Matrix No : SES 060086

Question 4.25

A proton makes a head-on collision with an unknown particle at rest. The proton
4
rebounds straight back with of its initial kinetic energy.
9

Find the ratio of the mass of the unknown particle to the mass of the proton, assuming
that the collision is elastic.

Uf
Uo= 0 m/s Vf
Vo

m M
m M

Let Vo be the initial velocity of the proton, and Vf be the final velocity of the proton. Uo
and Uf respectively be the initial and the final velocity of the unknown particle.

Since the collision is an elastic collision, hence kinetic energy is conserved.

1 1 1 1
mVo 2 + M(0) 2 = mVf 2 + M Uf 2
2 2 2 2
Besides that, the linear momentum is also conserved.

mVo + M(0) = mVf + M Uf

4
It is given that after the collision, the proton rebounds straight back with of its initial
9
kinetic energy. Hence,

1 4 1
mVf 2 = ( mVo 2 )
2 9 2
4
Vf 2 = Vo 2
9
2
Vf = Vo
3
Therefore, we can find that
mVo = mVf + M Uf
2
mVo = mVo + M Uf
3
1
mVo = M Uf
3
mVo
Uf =
3M
For the kinetic energy,

1 1 1 1
mVo 2 + M(0) 2 = mVf 2 + M Uf 2
2 2 2 2
1 1 1
mVo 2 = mVf 2 + M Uf 2
2 2 2
1 1 2 1
mVo 2 = m( Vo) 2 + M Uf 2
2 2 3 2
1 1 2 1 mVo 2
mVo 2 = m( Vo) 2 + M( )
2 2 3 2 3M
2 mVo 2
mVo 2 = m( Vo) 2 + M( )
3 3M
2 4 2 mVo 2
Vo = Vo + ( )
9 9M
5 mVo 2
Vo 2 =
9 9M
m
5=
M
Therefore the ratio of the mass of the unknown particle to the mass of the proton,

M 1
=
m 5